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Question

Why is the that when you say the truth, people will hate you?

Answer

Thank you for this interesting question. Without knowing what 'truth' you are referring to, it is hard to specifically answer your question. Therefore I will respond to two rather different meanings that are possible from what you say.

First possible meaning: you randomly go around telling people 'truthful' things about themselves and then it gets you into trouble. For instance, you might tell someone who is overweight that they are fat. It may be true but usually they will be pretty upset with you. I would discourage this type of talk and encourage you to look at how Jesus spoke to people. He knew when it was right to speak the truth after careful discernment. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we should "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up". I hope that through your words you can encourage and build others up.

The second possibility: you share your faith with people or choose not to go along with things people accept when they don't know God. You may do it politely and as kindly as you can but somehow people turn against you and label you a bigot or a phoney. I want to encourage you if that is what you mean. Jesus warned his followers about this:“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets" ( Luke 6:21)

Jesus said two thousand years ago that there was a natural spiritual hostility in people who didn't have personal faith in him. It is still true today. One way it shows is that people often don't want to compare their sins and mistakes with the perfect life of the Lord Jesus. To avoid facing themselves they lash out at goodness and purity. Another way is that people just hate the message of Jesus - especially this bit: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). If Jesus is the only way and they are taking another one, they are shown up as living for, and believing in, wrong things. In fact, many people hate spirituality just because they are unspiritual:

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed" (John 3:19-20).

I would encourage you to have discernment when talking to people about any subject. Be ready for them to hate you though. I pray you will not be discouraged.

I do hope this general answer to your question goes some way to helping you find peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. If you want to know more about what Jesus has done for you please watch the video on the main part of our site: www.lookingforGod.com

In closing, I want to encourage you to get more involved with your local church. It would be good to speak to a Christian leader or another trusted church individual regarding your question. I know they would be delighted to further answer you as well as offer prayer and support as you continue your spiritual journey:

Please use our Interactive Answer Matrix and feel free to ask another question. Our helpful staff are praying for you and waiting to try and answer to you from the Bible, and will be delighted to tell you more about Jesus Christ the Lord, the Saviour of the world.

*All Scripture references are taken From The English Standard Version of the Holy Bible unless stated otherwise

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